Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ⁴³  “For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.

 ⁴⁴  “For each tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.

 ⁴⁵  “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good;  and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil;  for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”  Luke 6:43-45.

There is an important distinction between judging for the purpose of condemnation and judging for the purpose of learning.  According to verse 37, we should not judge for the purpose of condemnation.  But, according to verses 43 to 45, we should judge for the purpose of learning.

I think examples can best show the reason for this distinction. 

We can too easily judge people and withhold the Gospel and goodness to them, which in effect, condemns them.

We are commanded to broadly preach the Gospel to everyone, and in this chapter, we are even commanded to love our enemies.  We should not judge those who appear to be reprobates for the purpose of condemning them.  We could too easily withhold the Gospel and withhold doing good to those that we judge to be reprobates.

I am quickly and clearly reminded when I use to hand out Gideon Testaments to public school students on the public sidewalks (not on school grounds) surrounding the school.  As I would see the students approach, I would see students that seemed good and receptive (that is, dressed well, groomed well, and polite) to receiving such a Testament. I would also see students that seemed bad and rebellious (that is. T-shirts with offensive messages on it, unkempt, loud, and cocky).  I was tempted to give Testaments to only those who seemed good, and not risk being offended, rejected, and wasting my time. 

However, I was often surprised to see the apparently good students flatly and coldly reject the Testament.  I was often also surprised to see the apparently bad students warmly receive the Testament.  

On the other hand, we should judge for the purpose of learning.  Every day, we need to judge to what we will listen and learn and accept as truth. 

It is easy to do this with some people.  We will not go to another religion’s place of worship and sit down and listen and receive as truth that speaker’s teachings.

However, it is trickier to do this with wolves in sheep’s clothing.  We need to be a good judge of that person’s true character and true beliefs.  We can’t just accept as truth that person’s teachings, because he says some things that are pleasant and true.  We need to judge and determine whether that person is a good tree or a bad tree.  In other words, we need to judge and determine the character of that person and the beliefs of that person before we decide whether or not “to pick that fruit”, which is a descriptive way of saying “to accept as truth”.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”  I John 4:1.

 ²⁹  “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also;  and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.

 ³⁰  “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.

 ³¹  “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

 ³²  “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.

 ³³  “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same.

 ³⁴  “If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.

 ³⁵  “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return;  and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High;  for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

 ³⁶  “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  Luke 6:27-36.

We need the Spirit of God to act this way.  We need the fruit of the Spirit “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …:  Galatians 5:22-23.

 ²⁶  “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.”  Luke 6:24-26. 

 ²²  “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.

 ²³  “Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.  For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”  Luke 6:20-23.  

I think that we have the tendency to feel guilty that we are not poor, not hungry, and not hated, or that we feel that we should do some things so that we become poor, become hungry, and become hated.

But, I do not think that this Scriptures intend for us to feel either way.

Notice the introductory phrase “And turning His gaze toward His disciples”.  Jesus was primarily addressing His disciples,  and the primary message to His disciples was “Blessed are you”.  Jesus was encouraging His disciples.

Notice also the context.  In the immediately preceding Scripture, Jesus had chosen His disciples.  There was nothing special that they had done to merit this blessing.  They had just obeyed His sovereign and irresistible command to follow Him. 

This choosing of His disciples is an example that we too are chosen by Christ.  We too have just obeyed His sovereign and irresistible command to follow Him. 

Like the twelve, we too can and should receive this Scripture as a blessing rather than as a vague “blessing or curse” or as a “to-do” list.  We too are blessed. 

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.  

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him …”  Ephesians 1:3-4 (Emphasis added.)

Today’s devotion covers Luke 6:1-5.

“1 Now it happened that He was passing through some grainfields on a Sabbath; and His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain.

2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

3 And Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him,

4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?”

5 And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Luke 6:1-5.

This Scripture continues the theme of the two prior Scriptures.

The practices of the Pharisees can be compared to the old. The practices of the disciples of Jesus can be compared to the new.

The practices of the disciples of the Pharisees can be summarized as legalism: “What can we do to achieve righteousness and salvation?”. The practices of the disciples of Jesus can be summarized as “living by the Spirit”: “What has God done to give us righteousness and salvation?”.

Today, we see a specific example of legalism and a specific reason why we can live by the Spirit.

The specific example of legalism is the teaching of the Pharisees that the action of the disciples of Jesus, picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain, was a violation of the fourth commandment (“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11).

The specific reason why we can live by the Spirit is that “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” In other words, Jesus is a higher standard and authority than the Sabbath, any other commandment, and the Law. “… He is the head over all rule and authority;” Colossians 2:10. (Emphasis added.)

“Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day–things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” Colossians 2:16-17. “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)–in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.” Colossians 2:20-23.

When we live by legalism, or by even the Law even in its simple and pure form of the Ten Commandments, we will find that the sin within us “… taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind …” Romans 7:8. “for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.” Romans 7:11.

However, when we follow Jesus and live by the Spirit, we will do what is right. We will find that fruit is produced of “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.

So, what is the purpose of the Law if it cannot make us righteous and cannot give us life?  The purpose of the Law is to “… shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” Galatians 3:22. “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:24-26.

“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17.

In Christ, we have “the summing up of all things”. Ephesians 1:10. “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16.

“… “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” Matthew 17:5.

 ³⁸  “But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.

 ³⁹  “And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.'”  Luke 5:36-39. 

It helps us to use the context to understand this Scripture.  In yesterday’s devotion, we read the immediate preceding Scripture of Luke 5:33-35:  “And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.”  And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you?  “But the days will come;  and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”

The practices of the Pharisees can be compared to the old.  The practices of the disciples of Jesus can be compared to the new.  

The practices of the disciples of the Pharisees can be summarized as legalism:  “What can we do to achieve righteousness and salvation?”

The practices of the disciples of Jesus can be summarized as “living by the Spirit“:  “What has God done to give us righteousness and salvation?”

^“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:28-29.

Man does indeed think that ” ‘The old is good enough.”  “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 

But, Jesus’ reply turns the question of legalism to the answer of “living by the Spirit”.  Jesus shifted the focus from man to God and from works to faith and from “what man could do” to “what God has done”.  “This is the work of God …” 

And yet, the Pharisees are not alone in preferring the old to the new.  Paul admonished the Galatians:  ^“Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain?  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”  Galatians 3:3-5.

But, the new can not be tied down to the old despite the desires of the Pharisees and the Galatians and many today.  Jesus was emphatic in using the illustrations that if one does tie down the old to the new:  “he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old” and “the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined’.

That is why we “… we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:6. 

But, if we insist on proving our own righteousness through old legalism, “even just a little to be safe”, as good as it may be in its distilled form of the Ten Commandments, then we will die.  “… for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.  I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Romans 7:7-11.

“For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.  “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.”  Galatians 2:18-19.  

“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”  Galatians 3:10.       

What could be wrong with adding just a little of the old legalism to the new life in Christ? 

But, Paul’s response was sharp.   “Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.  And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.  You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”  Galatians 5:2-4. 

In conclusion, we must be careful.  ” A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.”  Galatians 5:9.  We can’t patch a little of the old legalism to the new life in Christ.  We can’t work just a little to be safe.  We trust God and wait for the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, “… not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith”.  Philippians 3:9.